Extended shelf-life for Chorley and Leyland libraries

Extra opening hours – and earlier starts – are set to be unveiled at county libraries including Chorley and Leyland.

The town centre libraries will throw open their doors at 9am, under proposals for Lancashire’s library service.

Under the plans Chorley will open for an extra three hours a week and Leyland for two-and-a-half hours more.

County library chiefs say the reorganisation, set to be confirmed by County Coun Mike Calvert, community services cabinet member, can be achieved without extra staffing costs.

Councillors have been told that opening hours are one of the main issues raised by library staff during consultations. And there is an expectation for more to follow suit.

Richard Jones, adult and community services executive director, said in a report: “This first phase of the opening hours review has identified the branches where sufficient staffing resources can
be made available to open half an hour earlier.”

Other libraries set to benefit include Adlington and Coppull, which are due an extra 90 minutes per week and 9.30am opening, and Clayton Green, which gets three more hours and a 9am start.

Meanwhile Eccleston and Euxton will see two and one-and-a-half more hours per week respectively and 9.30am opening.

Only minor additional energy costs are expected to be incurred as a result of the move.

The larger libraries may still have certain sections not fully open for the first half-hour but the lending sections and public computers will be available.

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